12 August 2025
Frankfurt, Germany and Fort Collins, Colorado, USA. ICIG Ventures, the venture capital arm of International Chemical Investors Group (ICIG), today announced a cooperation agreement with New Iridium, a sustainable chemical innovation company pioneering low-carbon and clean chemistry technologies, to advance next-generation photocatalytic processes in chemical manufacturing.
Building on New Iridium’s proprietary light-driven platform for producing CO2-derived chemicals, the cooperation will focus on co-developing innovative processes. The partners will work toward advancing these technologies to commercial readiness through a milestone-driven scale-up roadmap, with targeted applications across the pharmaceutical, agrochemical, and specialty-chemical sectors.
“Photocatalysis represents a transformative opportunity to develop high-value chemicals using more sustainable and efficient approaches,” said Dr. Pelin Yilmaz, Investment Director at ICIG Ventures. “We are excited to support cutting-edge innovation that aligns with ICIG’s long-term strategic vision.”
“This cooperation agreement will enable New Iridium’s photocatalysis platform to transition from the lab into global chemical supply chains,” said Dr. Chern-Hooi Lim, Founder and CEO of New Iridium. “Together, we will demonstrate the potential of advanced light-driven chemistries to create more sustainable, high-performance solutions for the chemical industry.”
International Chemical Investors Group is a privately owned industrial group with a total turnover of more than €4 billion. ICIG focuses on several main platforms: Fine Chemicals under the WeylChem brand, Care Chemicals (Catexel), Chlorovinyls (Vynova), Compounds (Benvic), Hydrocarbons & Solvents (HCS Group), Superabsorbents (Stockhausen Superabsorber) and Enterprises with specialized businesses in industrial drying services, fermentation products, viscose filaments, activated carbon and wood protection chemicals. Today, the ICIG companies employ more than 7,100 people and operate more than 50 production sites in Europe, the U.S and India.
About New Iridium
New Iridium is a U.S.-based sustainable chemical innovation company developing an advanced platform for low-carbon chemical manufacturing including next-generation photocatalyst materials and photoreactor technologies. Its proprietary platform enables selective, light-driven chemical transformations that efficiently transform renewable inputs into high-value chemicals. The company is advancing a pipeline of bio-based and CO₂-derived building block chemicals, positioning itself at the forefront of sustainable chemical production.
Media Contact:
ICIG Ventures:
Dr Pelin Yilmaz, Investment Director at ICIG Ventures Holding GmbH
Phone +49 (69) 506 999-0
Email: info @ ic-investors.com
New Iridium:
Brent Cutcliffe, Chief Operating Officer at New Iridium Inc
Phone: +1 (720) 314-1236
Email: brent @ newiridium.com
GERMANY